Tissue Integrity Test 6 Practice

Maceration happens when skin around a wound stays constantly damp from wound exudate, sweat, or moisture. The outer skin then softens and breaks down, which can delay healing and increase infection risk. Keeping the surrounding skin dry and free of excess moisture directly prevents this breakdown, making it the most effective preventive action.

Gently patting dry after cleansing helps remove moisture but doesn’t address ongoing moisture from exudate. Soaking a dressing in water adds moisture, worsening maceration. Applying a moisture barrier around the wound may protect skin in some cases, but it doesn’t tackle the core issue of persistent moisture around the wound as directly as keeping the area dry.